A blog about patchwork & more

My sewing goals for 2016

2016 is almost here and with the year change come the summaries – goals posts. This blog is too young for a summary (although I’m pretty happy with the sewing I’ve done this year), but for the sewing related goals… that’s another history! So, for this 2016, I plan / hope / would like to do:

– Firstly, I must end a long-standing UFO which is almost finished (I’m ashamed of how almost finished it is sitting in a box). Problem: once the top is finished, I don’t have any idea of how I’m going to quilt it. It’s too big for my sewing machine, and I don’t see it being hand-quilted.

The issue with the quilting part affects the major part of my ideas, as I don’t want to start something big enough to have trouble with it… But sooner or later I will have to face it, so…

– Find a pattern to put the collection Reel Time, by Zen Chic for Moda, into use. I know it should be the other way around, first the pattern, then the fabric, but experience has showed me otherwise. This meaning: going to the shop and the fabric you like and have been looking for is no longer being sold. Problem is that I have a fat-eight bundle, and all the patterns I like (for the moment) call for fat-quarters. Either maths or keep searching… or wait for inspiration to come and create my own pattern (which would be absolutely fantastic!). And of course, piece it.

– Find a pattern (there will be more like this, sorry) for a charm pack. This is a request from a relative, who also chose the fabrics (Jelly Bean, by Laundry Basket Quilts for Moda). I must admit that, even though I appreciate the quality of the design, it’s not my cup of tea. To make things a bit more difficult, it has to have specific dimensions. And ideally, should be finished around Summer.

– Find a pattern (I know, you must be starting to see a pattern right now in my goals) for a collection of white batiks (2 ½” strips set). Again, a request.

– Find a pattern for a 2 ½” strips set (Matilda by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures Fabrics). I really love this fabric and I would like to make a bed-runner from it. On my to-do list since 2014.

– Piece a table runner for my balcony table. For this I have the pattern and the fabric, in this order.

– Join a BOM program. This is already done, now just waiting until the first block is released. So, better: finishing a BOM program.

– Make a new pincushion for my sewing table. I have the pattern, I can’t decide on the fabric.

– Sew a mini-quilt to hang in my sewing space. Some patterns to choose from, a little bit of an idea of the fabric I would use.

– Do not let the Stars-quilt to become and UFO. I don’t have any hurry to finish it, but I should keep doing a little every week. For this, blogging helps a lot.

I have more fabric unassigned to a specific project, but I must think of it as my little stash. I should only buy fabric that works as stash-builder or that I absolutely love it (which means, I’m going to buy everything I like and fit it in this category). And start breaking apart collections. Because, being realistic, I know I’m going to buy fabric this year.

And I have some other UFOs, but these need some rest for the moment. And two sets of already sewn HST, that also need some rest.

But most important: keep in mind that this is my hobby. I can get done what I can get done, and I should not get any stress from it. This is the true goal for 2016: enjoy sewing, but keeping it in its place in my everyday life. Just to make sure I will continue to enjoy it in 2017.

All photos, content and opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated. I will try to link to any original source and name the author, book or magazine from which and idea, pattern or any related material comes from. If, nevertheless, you find something you do not agree with, please let me know so I can amend it. Thank you!